The Chicago Bulls came in oozing with confidence, unafraid of LeBron James and convinced they could keep their playoff momentum rolling.

Derrick Rose made sure they did.

Looking like the league MVP he was before being slowed by knee injuries, Rose scored 25 points, Pau Gasol added 21 and the Bulls led from the start in a 99-92 victory over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.

Rose, who suffered a shoulder stinger in the closing minute, helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs. Cleveland was missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but its bigger issue was not stopping Rose or his pick-and-roll plays with Gasol.

Rose, who has missed over 180 games the past four seasons, is savoring every moment back in the postseason.

“I just appreciate everything,” he said, “getting back on the floor and just every aspect of basketball.”

Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points and James added 19 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, playing its first game since Love — one of the Cavs” Big 3 — was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a shoulder injury.

“We all just have to play better,” said James, who had nine assists but six turnovers. “I wasn”t that good tonight.”

Clippers 117, Rockets 101: Blake Griffin had 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double to lift Chris Paul-less Los Angeles over Houston in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Houston scored five straight points to cut the lead to one with about 71/2 minutes left. Matt Barnes got the Clippers going after that, making two 3-pointers in a 12-0 run that made it 101-88 3 minutes later, and the Clippers coasted to the victory.

Paul, who has a strained left hamstring, missed his first game of the season. But Jamal Crawford had 21 points and Barnes added 20 to help pick up the slack.

Dwight Howard led Houston with 22 points, and James Harden added 20.

Clipper coach Doc Rivers said he isn”t sure Paul will be ready for Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Spurs: San Antonio is are facing its most uncertain future ever under coach Gregg Popovich.

Along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the team”s list of free agents includes Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Marco Belinelli, Cory Joseph and Aron Baynes. The only players under contract are starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter along with key reserves Boris Diaw and Patty Mills and rookie Kyle Anderson.

While Leonard is expected to remain under a max contract, Duncan and Ginobili have not decided whether they will return or retire from their Hall of Fame careers.

The Spurs” defense of their latest NBA title ended Saturday night in the finale of a thrilling seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team everyone has grown accustomed to seeing “will probably look considerably different” next season, Popovich acknowledged.

The Chicago Bulls came in oozing with confidence, unafraid of LeBron James and convinced they could keep their playoff momentum rolling.

Derrick Rose made sure they did.

Looking like the league MVP he was before being slowed by knee injuries, Rose scored 25 points, Pau Gasol added 21 and the Bulls led from the start in a 99-92 victory over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.

Rose, who suffered a shoulder stinger in the closing minute, helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs. Cleveland was missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but its bigger issue was not stopping Rose or his pick-and-roll plays with Gasol.

Rose, who has missed over 180 games the past four seasons, is savoring every moment back in the postseason.

“I just appreciate everything,” he said, “getting back on the floor and just every aspect of basketball.”

Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points and James added 19 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, playing its first game since Love — one of the Cavs” Big 3 — was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a shoulder injury.

“We all just have to play better,” said James, who had nine assists but six turnovers. “I wasn”t that good tonight.”

Clippers 117, Rockets 101: Blake Griffin had 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double to lift Chris Paul-less Los Angeles over Houston in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Houston scored five straight points to cut the lead to one with about 71/2 minutes left. Matt Barnes got the Clippers going after that, making two 3-pointers in a 12-0 run that made it 101-88 3 minutes later, and the Clippers coasted to the victory.

Paul, who has a strained left hamstring, missed his first game of the season. But Jamal Crawford had 21 points and Barnes added 20 to help pick up the slack.

Dwight Howard led Houston with 22 points, and James Harden added 20.

Clipper coach Doc Rivers said he isn”t sure Paul will be ready for Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Spurs: San Antonio is are facing its most uncertain future ever under coach Gregg Popovich.

Along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the team”s list of free agents includes Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Marco Belinelli, Cory Joseph and Aron Baynes. The only players under contract are starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter along with key reserves Boris Diaw and Patty Mills and rookie Kyle Anderson.

While Leonard is expected to remain under a max contract, Duncan and Ginobili have not decided whether they will return or retire from their Hall of Fame careers.

The Spurs” defense of their latest NBA title ended Saturday night in the finale of a thrilling seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team everyone has grown accustomed to seeing “will probably look considerably different” next season, Popovich acknowledged.

The Chicago Bulls came in oozing with confidence, unafraid of LeBron James and convinced they could keep their playoff momentum rolling.

Derrick Rose made sure they did.

Looking like the league MVP he was before being slowed by knee injuries, Rose scored 25 points, Pau Gasol added 21 and the Bulls led from the start in a 99-92 victory over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.

Rose, who suffered a shoulder stinger in the closing minute, helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs. Cleveland was missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but its bigger issue was not stopping Rose or his pick-and-roll plays with Gasol.

Rose, who has missed over 180 games the past four seasons, is savoring every moment back in the postseason.

“I just appreciate everything,” he said, “getting back on the floor and just every aspect of basketball.”

Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points and James added 19 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, playing its first game since Love — one of the Cavs” Big 3 — was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a shoulder injury.

“We all just have to play better,” said James, who had nine assists but six turnovers. “I wasn”t that good tonight.”

Clippers 117, Rockets 101: Blake Griffin had 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double to lift Chris Paul-less Los Angeles over Houston in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Houston scored five straight points to cut the lead to one with about 71/2 minutes left. Matt Barnes got the Clippers going after that, making two 3-pointers in a 12-0 run that made it 101-88 3 minutes later, and the Clippers coasted to the victory.

Paul, who has a strained left hamstring, missed his first game of the season. But Jamal Crawford had 21 points and Barnes added 20 to help pick up the slack.

Dwight Howard led Houston with 22 points, and James Harden added 20.

Clipper coach Doc Rivers said he isn”t sure Paul will be ready for Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Spurs: San Antonio is are facing its most uncertain future ever under coach Gregg Popovich.

Along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the team”s list of free agents includes Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Marco Belinelli, Cory Joseph and Aron Baynes. The only players under contract are starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter along with key reserves Boris Diaw and Patty Mills and rookie Kyle Anderson.

While Leonard is expected to remain under a max contract, Duncan and Ginobili have not decided whether they will return or retire from their Hall of Fame careers.

The Spurs” defense of their latest NBA title ended Saturday night in the finale of a thrilling seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team everyone has grown accustomed to seeing “will probably look considerably different” next season, Popovich acknowledged.